Re: oil brushes

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Re: oil brushes

joe,

I swear by a brush cleaner known as "B&J". I think the label actually says "The Master's" "B&J Brush cleaner" or something like that and then goes on to boast about how it can bring old hardened brushes back to life(WHICH IT DOES-with a little effort on your part). I have used this stuff since i was fifteen and it has kepy my brushes in great condition.
It's important to never let oil paint sit in you brush overnight or for longer. There is always a little air trapped inside the bristles so even if you dip it in water overnight it's gonna' start to dry out. ESPECIALLY don't leave turpentine in your brushes for long periods of time---then when you finally free the bristles of all the dried oil paint, you'll watch them all fall out. Clean your brushes after you paint or hire someone to do it or perform favors for them in exchange for them cleaning the brushes, just don't let them harden.......that said, when they do harden after you had to walk away without cleaning them(i was SO exhausted after painting the other night that i didn't clean them until morning and that made me nervous and ashamed), wipe any paint out of them if there is any moist oil paint,work the soap into the bristles as much as possible, start to flex the bristles FIRST FROM THE TIP WHILE HOLDING THE BRISTLES WHERE THEY MEET THE FERRULE. If the bristles are all hard and caked don't bend the bulk of the bristles where they meet the ferrule until you have softened(or cleared out the stiff paint from the rest of the bristles. If you do you'll be using the caked bulk of bristles as a fulcrum for prying the hairs out of the ferrule instead of cleaning them.just use the B&J's soap and water, rinsing occasionally to check your progress(and improve morale). I have a sweet #12 Grumbacher bristle that i call "Lazarus" 'cause that thing was DEAD! It was ROCK hard for three years and i raised it in an hour- it "came forth" soft and perfectly in order with not one lost hair since.

After i clean my brushes i usually leave a wee bit of soap in them-not gobs--one dip-n-swipe of turp. takes it out